Flawless Theft Of Diamond

Published on 19/07/10

He could barely speak English and carried no weapon. A smartly dressed man, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag and wearing a Louis Vuitton belt, doesn't look suspicious or out of place in an upmarket jewellery store.

The customer spoke in a soft voice as he made himself comfortable on a chair in the store and got busy examining expensive jewellery with a special magnifier, called a loupe.

All that is known is that when "Mr Cho" - who introduced himself as Japanese - left the Jack Friedman jewellery store in Sandton, he had taken a diamond costing R230 000 and left behind a simulant - a worthless imitation that looks like a diamond.